Young children may benefit more from learning under the wing of professionals, rather than straining to pass secondary school exams, says business and education organisation.
Young Enterprise believes that gaining skills such as global thinking and business conduct through professionals and education charities are vital in order for young people to thrive in the job market.
They also urged Education secretary Micheal Gove to consider if excessive focus on academic exams “risks failure” regarding a young individual’s chances in finding employment.
The statement comes after reports that examiners gave teachers advice on what would be in the GCSE and A-Level tests, forcing examinations to be delayed.
Catherine Marchant, Interim Chief Executive at Young Enterprise said, ‘I am shocked by the allegations that some schools have been apparently lured by exam boards into cheating to help students pass.
I strongly agree with the respected educationalist Professor Mick Waters who has urged schools to adopt Young Enterprise as a healthy way to compete.
‘In the wake of this scandal Young Enterprise hopes Education Secretary Michael Gove’s inquiry will consider whether the excessively narrow focus on academic facts and exams currently pursued by the Coalition Government risks failure.”
Ms Marchant added that the rise in youth unemployment needs to be acknowledged regarding the debate on the importance of classroom lessons.
She also stressed that young individuals need to be equipped with certain skills in order to avoid being rejected by employers.
She said, ‘With more than 1 million young unemployed, evidence is mounting that this approach is not providing young people with the employability skills they need.
These skills are: the teamwork, initiative, global thinking and businesslike behaviour that employers tell us they look for when hiring recruits.’’
Every year, Young Enterprise help 250,000 young people learn about business and the world of work in the classroom under the guidance of volunteers from 3,500 companies.
